Recently appointed POPS Principal Guest Conductor David Charles Abell has long combined his Philly roots with an international flair. Cole Porter, one of the best American songwriters, owns a legacy that continues to charm Broadway audiences today. Abell’s tribute is an original program of Porter’s best, sung by Broadway stars Catherine Russell, Marin Mazzie, and Jason Danieley. “Too Darn Hot”, “Night and Day”, and “Easy to Love” are certain to deliver the infectious Porter magic with this modern twist.

Helpful Information

This program, including intermission, is approximately two hours in length. Artists and program are subject to change without notice.

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Photography

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Enjoy the show!

Guest Artists

David Charles Abell, Principal Guest Conductor

David made his Philly POPS debut in 2013 with the Christmas Spectacular series and was delighted to be asked back to conduct it again in 2014 and 2015. Last season, he returned for Blockbuster Broadway, and was named Principal Guest Conductor of the Philly POPS shortly thereafter.

David grew up in Philadelphia. He attended Germantown Friends School from kindergarten through sixth grade and sang in the choir of Grace Church in Mt. Airy. He later attended Yale University and the Juilliard School, and studied at the Conservatoire américain in France with legendary pedagogue Nadia Boulanger.

At age 12, he met Leonard Bernstein while singing in the world premiere of Mass at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Ten years later, he was asked to assist his teacher, John Mauceri, for the Tenth Anniversary production of Mass. This led to a close association with Bernstein, both as a conducting student and as an editor of Bernstein’s music during the last decade of the composer’s life.

David’s face is widely known to American TV audiences from his conducting of the two Les Misérables Anniversary Concerts (10th and 25th), both of which have become PBS fund-raising perennials. He regularly appears on radio and television in the UK, where he has lived since 1996. He has conducted five times at the BBC Proms, London’s annual music festival at the Royal Albert Hall, most notably for the immensely successful Sondheim 80th birthday celebration. Following his English National Opera debut with Sweeney Todd in 2015, he returned with Carousel to rave reviews last season.

David has conducted the French premieres of four Sondheim musicals: Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods and Follies. In concert, he has worked with several French orchestras and will be making his debut with the Orchestra national de Lyon and the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France later this year.

His passion and expertise in the pit has earned him a thriving US opera career. Last September, he made his Opera Philadelphia debut with The Magic Flute. He has conducted Kevin Puts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night to great acclaim at three U.S. companies. Later this season, he will be conducting Verdi’s Rigoletto in Kansas City and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at Hawaii Opera Theatre.

A desire to leave a lasting legacy prompted David to co-edit the first-ever scholarly critical edition of a classic Broadway hit: Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate. Using the model of authentic editions of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, he and Seann Alderking unearthed the original 1948 orchestra parts for the show and meticulously created new scores and parts, now available for sale and rental. David has since conducted two productions of Kate based on the new edition.

His ever-increasing catalogue of recordings includes Something’s Gotta Give with baritone Simon Keenlyside, Forever with soprano Diana Damrau, excerpts from La bohème and Madama Butterfly with the Royal Philharmonic, Jonathan Dove’s community opera Tobias and the Angel, complete recordings of the musicals Miss Saigon and Man of La Mancha, and, exclusively for the Philly POPS, the 2015 Christmas Spectacular CD.

Catherine Russell , vocalist

Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist/composer/bandleader, and Louis Armstrong's long-time musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist/guitarist/bassist who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver.

Catherine’s professional life began early. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she embarked upon musical adventures with Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, and Rosanne Cash, among others, touring the world and appearing on over 200 albums. Her 2006 debut album Cat, (World Village/Harmonia Mundi), garnered rave reviews, paving the way for her 2008 sophomore release, Sentimental Streak. Catherine was a guest on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", PBS-TV’s “Tavis Smiley Show”, and NPR's "Fresh Air", “Piano Jazz”, “Mountain Stage”, “World Café”, and “JazzSet”.

She has won a prestigious German Record Critics' Award and a Living Blues magazine's critics' poll. Catherine Russell's third album, Inside This Heart of Mine, reached #1 on JazzWeek and Roots Music Report’s radio charts, while also charting on Billboard and reaching #1 on I-Tunes jazz charts. A fourth album, Strictly Romancin’ was released in February 2012, and was awarded Prix du Jazz Vocal (Vocal Album of The Year) by the French Jazz Academy, Grand Prix du Hot Club de France, and a Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording. Also in 2012, Catherine Russell won a Grammy Award as a featured artist on the soundtrack album for the HBO-TV series, Boardwalk Empire.

In 2013, Catherine contributed 3 songs to the soundtrack of the film, Kill Your Darlings. Her 5th solo album, Bring It Back, was released worldwide in February of 2014 on the Jazz Village label, receiving a *****5 Star Review in Downbeat Magazine.

In September 2016, Catherine Russell released her 6th solo album, titled Harlem On My Mind, featuring songs from the Great African American Songbook. With universal acclaim, Catherine Russell has performed on four continents. She's been a hit at major Jazz Festivals including Monterey, Newport, North Sea, JazzAscona, Montreal, Bern, Rochester International, Panama, Tanglewood, and at sold out venues like The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Scullers in Boston, The Dakota in Minneapolis, Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC, SFJazz in San Francisco, and Pasadena Pops in Los Angeles. All Music Guide says, "Russell emerged as a retro old school vocalist for the ages." Her repertoire features a selection of gems from the 1920s through the present; vital interpretations, bursting with soul and humor. With an off-the-beaten-path song selection, sparkling acoustic swing, and a stunning vocal approach, Catherine Russell has joined the ranks of the greatest interpreters and performers of American Popular Song.

Marin Mazzie, vocalist

Critically acclaimed performer and three-time Tony Award nominee, Marin Mazzie, has been heard in many of the country's major symphony halls, cabaret and concert venues, and has been seen starring in some of the most memorable musicals on the Broadway stage and London's West End.

Marin recently starred as Anna Leonowens in The King and I on Broadway. Marin’s other recent Broadway credits include starring as “Helen Sinclair” in Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway for which she received the Outer Critics Circle Award and starring in Next to Normal opposite real-life husband, Jason Danieley. She received Tony and Drama Desk nominations and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance as Lilli/Katharine in the hit revival of Kiss Me Kate, and later received an Olivier Award nomination when she made her West End debut in the show. Other Broadway credits include: Enron, Monty Python’s Spamalot (also West End), Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics nomination), Passion (Tony nomination), Man of LaMancha, Into The Woods, Big River, and Out of This World, Kismet and Zorba (all at Encores!). Her Off-Broadway appearances include the recent revival of Carrie (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations) as well as The Vagina Monologues, The Trojan Women: A Love Story, and The World Goes ‘Round (also National Tour).

Marin's extensive concert career spans the country from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl. She has been seen with the NY Philharmonic in two of its PBS specials: Sondheim: The Birthday Concert and the Live at Lincoln Center performance of Camelot as Guenevere. Marin and her husband, Jason Danieley, have performed their cabaret concerts He Said/She Said and Opposite You at The Café Carlyle, Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, Joe's Pub, the Cinegrill, and numerous other venues nationally. Marin received critical acclaim for her solo show at 54 Below: Marin Mazzie – Make Your Own Kind of Music, which is now available on Broadway Records.

Marin's television appearances include The Big C, Smash, Without a Trace, Still Standing, and Numb3rs. Other television appearances include many on PBS Great Performances: Passion, My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs, and Live From Lincoln Center’s Ring Them Bells! - A Kander & Ebb Celebration.

Marin holds an honorary doctorate and has a musical theater scholarship in her name from her alma mater, Western Michigan University. Visit www.marinmazzie.com.

Jason Danieley, vocalist

Broadway appearances: The upcoming production of Pretty Woman as Philip Stuckey. Originating the role of Frederich Kuhn in Kander & Ebb and McNally’s The Visit, Next To Normal (with wife Marin Mazzie), originating the role of Aaron Fox in Curtains (Outer Critics Circle Nomination), originated the role of Malcolm in The Full Monty (also London’s West End), and made his debut as the titular role in Candide (Theatre World Award and Drama Desk Nomination). He’s had leading roles in A Tree Grows In Brooklyn and Strike Up The Band (City Center's: Encores!). His Off-Broadway performances include The Trojan Women: A Love Story and world premieres of Dream True by Ricky Ian Gordon and Floyd Collins by Adam Guettel.

Some of his regional theater appearances include four other world premieres; SecondhandLions, Some Lovers by Burt Bacharach, The Highest Yellow by Michael John LaChiusa (Helen Hayes Award), and Beauty by Tina Landau. Other regional credits include Aristede Forestier in Can-Can at the Papermill Playhouse, George in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Sunday In The Park With George (Joseph Jefferson Nomination), Casino Paradise by William Bolcolm, 110 In The Shade (L.A. Garland Award), and Brigadoon (L.A.’s Reprise!).

As a concert soloist, Jason has appeared with many of the country's leading orchestras including the New York Pops, the Boston Pops, the Philly POPS, Los Angeles, and New York Philharmonics, St. Louis, Grant Park, Ravinia Festival, Utah, Minnesota and Buffalo Symphonies, Orchestra of St. Luke's, American Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Pops Orchestra. Concert highlights include many PBS Great Performances and Live from Lincoln Center television appearances including Enoch Snow in Carousel (NYPhil – Emmy nominated), Ring Them Bells: A Tribute to Kander & Ebb (Jazz @ Lincoln Center: with Chita Rivera and Marin Mazzie), Lt. Cable in South Pacific (Carnegie Hall – Emmy nominated) and Sondheim!: The Birthday Concert (NYPhil – Emmy nominated). Major staged performances of Candide and Of Thee I Sing/Let ‘Em Eat Cake (S.F. Symphony) The Mikado and The Song Of Norway (American Symphony & Collegiate Chorale/Carnegie Hall). In addition to symphony appearances Jason and Marin have performed in most of the prestigious nightclubs around the country in their cabaret concerts of Opposite You and He Said/She Said. Visit www.jasondanieley.com.

David Charles Abell brings a current dash of sophistication and wit to the Cole Porter songbook. The POPS has often gone throughout its 40-year history to the magic of Cole Porter, always for a similar taste of elegance and grace. “Night and Day” and “Everything Goes” were both featured in the March 1990 program A Musical Salute to Fred Astaire and Ballroom Dancing.